Thanks, I guess

"A kid walked by me today and said I had cool shoes."
"Yea?"
"It was just weird to me. I've been getting a lot of random compliments from random people lately. Shit like that baffles me."
"Why does it baffle you?"
"Because I've never been one to A. get compliments on menial things and B. to get them from utter strangers or even acquaintances."
"It's not that strange. You're just drawing to much attention to it. Putting mean where meaning doesn't exist."
"Well that's a given but aside from the kid, there have been times when women compliment me and the only recourse I can take is thinking they are being flirty."
"That's not unheard of, what's your point?"
"No point, just voicing my confusion."
"So people find you attractive and want to compliment you? What's the problem?"
"Oh no problem, again I'm just not used to it."
"What did she say?"
"Who?"
"The girl who complimented you."
"Oh, well a few years ago a girl at the checkout line said, 'I like your shirt.' I was wearing some band shirt or something."
"What did you say back?"
"I was so thrown off by it, since it's such a random thing to say, especially towards me, I just said I liked her shoes. The other one, more recently, I was leaving work and a woman I know called from her desk at the back of her row saying 'I like your jacket.' I simply said thanks and went to the stairs."
"Was it a nice coat?"
"See that's the thing, no. It's an old shrunken hoodie. I'm assuming she said it because it had a band name on it but still it's not a good jacket."
"Maybe they were both just trying to find a way to start a conversation."
"Yea probably but I'm so inept and the setting was so weird that I was blindsided by it. I've never been one to take compliments well. And even more so when they come from attractive women."
"Because you don't think you're desirable?"
"Well yea, I've always been that way though. Things have changed yes but I still feel like I'm not that desirable, at least to be complimented randomly."
"Perhaps you need to take a chance and strike up a conversation with one of them, maybe this more recent one?"
"Impossible."
"How so?"
"We work together, she dated one of my friends. I don't think it'd be fruitful."
"You have a very defeatist attitude."
"You say defeatist, I say realistic. You know I'm not one to start something if I think it'll fail outright."
"I suppose. Do end up getting yourself in over your head once it shows signs of failing?"
"Yes...sad to say. I think my biggest issue is battling between resolving to stay alone for my mental health or attempting to being something and failing again. That's why these seemingly innocuous compliments baffle me so. I'm always the one to initiate interest not the other way around. I don't know how to handle it without either bumbling or coming off as cold."
"Sometimes that can't be helped."
"You're not wrong."
"Fasten your seat belts and remain seated for the flight. We are preparing for liftoff."
"How long is this flight again?"
"Nine hours."
"Right...what do you know about Nihilism?"